Access Cold Frame - can I sow/grow in it as in a greenhouse

[SammieB]

I've not got space for a proper greenhouse yet so treated myself to a second-hand Access coldframe with a 4 tier raised bed (see link below)

Wooden raised base for Cold frames - Access Garden Products

It seems a bit like a miniature greenhouse to me so do you think I could sow/grow veg in it as early as you would with an unheated greenhouse?

If yes, what could I sow/grow now?
If no, what could I sow/grow now?

We live on a south facing hillside at 210m in the Peak District, Derbyshire.

Any advice gratefully received.
Thanks, Sammie

[WendyC]

Looks nice. Can you give an idea of dimensions? You certainly could get salad crops going and if tall enough a bush tomato. I don't think it is tall enough for a cordon tomato. Dwarf French beans?
Bear in mind a small space will heat up very quickly so will need lots of ventilation.

[SammieB]

Ooh, wasn't actually thinking about what could grow long term, just until it was warm enough to plant out, but that's an interesting thought.
Size is 4ft x 4ft with ridge height at 2ft 8" from staging or about 4ft 8" from floor (staging can be partly or fully removed)

[Two_Sheds]

As Wendy says, it's going to cook your plants like an oven if you forget to ventilate it on sunny days: think about some shading (but don't place it in the shade).

It's a very nice looking coldframe, a more substantial version of the £10 blowaways. How heavy is it? It's pegged into the soil isn't it?

[bario1]

I should think you can sow whatever you like in there now Sammie, sweetcorn, french beans, squashes, courgettes, brassicas, whatever. Looks like a great little coldframe, and there *probably* won't be a severe enough frost now to cause your seedlings any problems. Just remember to check every day that things aren't drying out. I've found that the coldframe is good for a few pak choi, rocket, salad leaves etc towards the end of the season, but in the 'height' of summer i just use it for germinating stuff in pots/trays - keeps the wind and most of the slugs off.

[SammieB]

Yes, I've had my fingers... well actually they were sweet peas...burned before when I was using a blow away (forgot to open it up and it fried my beautiful little seedlings!) so with this one I have an automatic vent in the side - though I guess there will be times that this is still not enough.
It also came with shading so will keep that to hand in the summer too.
Don't know how heavy it is but it's quite substantial, with 3mm safety glass all over, so I *don't think* it needs pegging down. It just sits on the raised wooden platform.

I've just put a tray of peas, french beans and runners in there and am just a bit sceptical that it'll be too cold for them to germinate, but perhaps not then.

Do you think it would be safe enough to put the trays of tomato, courgette, squash and cucumber seedlings that are currently on my windowsill out there now?

[Kristen]

Do you think it would be safe enough to put the trays of tomato, courgette, squash and cucumber seedlings that are currently on my windowsill out there now?

No (unless you are in Cornwall - pls put your Location in your Profile/Settings). They need minimum of 10C day & night. Doubt you can maintain that as yet, particularly with the cold snap due Fri/Sat night.

[Kristen]

Actually, it would be great to put them out during the day, they will much prefer the quality of the light to a windowsill, but some/many nights will still be too cold for them.

A Max/Min thermometer would help, so you know what temperature it is actually falling to (compared to the forecast temperature, for example)

[SammieB]

I'm up in the Peak District (sorry, location now included) so doubt temp will stay above 10 degrees inside the frame.
I have a min/max thermometer and it said it was only at 11 degrees last night. Not sure what had been forecast but comparing temps is a very useful suggestion so will try that.
Had hoped to avoid the to-ing and fro-ing of trays so perhaps if I compare temps and keep an eye on the forecast then I could just bring them in when anything less than 10 degrees was expected.
I guess that takes me back to the question of what is hardy enough for me to sow and/or grow on in there now?

[Kristen]

One option would be to put something "thick" over the cold frame on cold nights. An old duvet, or army surplus sleeping bag, for example.

You can sow anything hardy now, and use the cold frame to bring it on more quickly that if it was sowed direct in the beds. Plus, when you plant out, everything will be at ideal spacing with no gaps, whereas if you sow a "row" outdoors and then thin you are likely to have some gaps etc. This can be helpful if you have a small plot to get best utilisation of available space.

T&M have a handy calendar of Sowing dates, which indicates whether you need a greenhouse, windowsill or can sow direct.

http://www.thompson-morgan.com/stati...%20FINALV4.pdf

or this one which indicates greenhouse, frame or direct
http://www.jungleseeds.com/VegetableCalendar.htm

[SammieB]

The cat sleeps on our old duvet and, whilst I have been eyeing it up, I don't think she'd be too pleased if I whisk that out from under her!
I do have a small plot so that sounds like a good plan.
Thanks for the links to the sowing calendars - the Jungle seeds one looks particularly helpful.
(Sorry for not including quotes from your messages - I haven't figured out how to do that yet!)

[Ecoboy]

Hi. I'd call that a small greenhouse rather than a cold frame. snazzy looking though! I'm a bit like yourself except I've just build a small more traditional frams: sloping (double-glazed unit about 40" x 30"; 20" tall at back and about a foot at front). I'm very proud of it but now wondering what to put in there.
Aubergine? bush tomato? Seeds on trays or plants into soil?
suggestions please.
Ecoboy

[veggiechicken]

(Sorry for not including quotes from your messages - I haven't figured out how to do that yet!)

Hi Sammie If its just one quote, choose "Reply with Quote" (RwQ) instead of "Reply".
If its multiple quotes, click on the funny little "box" to the right of "RwQ" and you can keep clicking on that until you're ready to reply, Then click on RwQ and all the quotes will appear in your draft reply.
Hope this makes sense

[Potstubsdustbins]

I'm in Nottm and know from experience (SWMBO comes from Buxton) that you are anywhere up to a month behind us, more if you are on the side of Mam Tor.

All green salad stuff should be OK now providing they have been hardened off properly, just in case you get a late frost. Anything that is the slightest delicate I would think you would have to wait to the middle of June before letting it venture outside.

[SammieB]

Hi. I'd call that a small greenhouse rather than a cold frame. snazzy looking though!

Thanks Ecoboy, I think it's snazzy looking too and it will do me fine until I can get a proper greenhouse.

I'm a bit like yourself except I've just build a small more traditional frams: sloping (double-glazed unit about 40" x 30"; 20" tall at back and about a foot at front). I'm very proud of it but now wondering what to put in there.
Aubergine? bush tomato? Seeds on trays or plants into soil?
suggestions please.
Ecoboy

Sorry Ecoboy I'm too new to this to advise here but there are others who will be able to help you on that one.

Hi Sammie If its just one quote, choose "Reply with Quote" (RwQ) instead of "Reply".
If its multiple quotes, click on the funny little "box" to the right of "RwQ" and you can keep clicking on that until you're ready to reply, Then click on RwQ and all the quotes will appear in your draft reply.
Hope this makes sense

Well am giving it a go now so fingers crossed I'll get this right veggiechicken. Am trying out the icons too. Not sure what they all mean though!

I'm in Nottm and know from experience (SWMBO comes from Buxton) that you are anywhere up to a month behind us, more if you are on the side of Mam Tor.

Thankfully no, am just in the Hope Valley. But you're right, once you've gone up Winnats pass it's a completely different climate up there.

All green salad stuff should be OK now providing they have been hardened off properly, just in case you get a late frost. Anything that is the slightest delicate I would think you would have to wait to the middle of June before letting it venture outside.

I've had everything in the coldframe/greenhouse thingy in the day and been bringing them in at night for almost three weeks now. Have just started hardening them off - they had their first night out in it last night. Had intended to plant out at the beginning of June but depending how the weather's looking am going to be brave and plant half out next week. Wish me luck!